By Skye Sherman
Entering the freshly reimagined lobby of The Diplomat Beach Resort is like stepping back in time and peeking into the future, all at once. For some, this beachfront hotel is the reincarnated scene of decades of memories: weddings, the wildest of parties, proms, a romantic staycation… And for others, it’s the dawning of a new day in Hollywood, Florida, the establishing of a renewed reputation for the ultimate in beach-resort bliss. Now $100 million into a transformation, The Diplomat Beach Resort’s classy-playful new branding—black-and-white palms and stripes with pops of bright salmon—speaks to the hotel’s focus on honoring its storied past while ushering in a new era of dignified presence as a celebrated South Florida fixture.
Situated on a narrow stretch of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, The Diplomat Beach Resort is dressed to impress. With 1,000 redesigned guest rooms—all offering sweeping water views, and sunrise- or sunset-themed according to orientation—and 10 concept-driven culinary options, there’s ample opportunity for locals and far-flung travelers alike to explore The Diplomat Beach Resort’s vision of vacationing as it should be. And when that includes Trina Turk-designed cabanas and a candy-and-cones cart adorning the bi-level pool deck, we’re all in.
Diplomat Landing, attached to the hotel via skyway, boasts two of the hotel’s anchor restaurants: Bristol’s Burgers, where you’ll encounter classic-with-a-twist soda shop staples, and Portico Beer & Wine Garden, the ideal spot for a sunset cocktail on the water, Adirondack chairs and all. Diplomat Prime, a sophisticated steakhouse clad in masculine wood tones and subtly feminine sea-inspired elements, speaks of the spirited celebrations the 50s and 60s saw within those very walls. Though he shares the spotlight with celebrity chefs Geoffrey Zakarian and Michael Schulson, who stand at the helm of two of The Diplomat Beach Resort’s other dining destinations (Point Royal and Monkintail, respectively), Prime’s Executive Chef Nicolay Adinaguev holds his own with dishes like Wagyu beef aged in-house and an innovative raw bar tower.
Though the edible offers are tempting, visitors to The Diplomat Beach Resort should leave time outside of restaurant-hopping to float through the extended two-story pool, gazing up at swimmers above through the upper pool’s glass bottom. Find a spot in the shade of a palm tree or frolic at Dip + Slide, a mini-waterpark for The Diplomat Beach Resort least diplomatic visitors.
Offering an experiential respite from the real world, with its culinary ventures and poolside reveries, The Diplomat Beach Resort is an “it” destination for a resort stay worth the vacation days. With a debut this grand, it seems The Diplomat Beach Resort’s legacy is just getting started. Again.
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